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January 30, 2009 eLetter

28 January, 2009 08:35:00 The North Africa Journal

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This issue addresses the following topics:

Obama's Walk on the Wild Side

By Arezki Daoud: America’s new president is a courageous man. He is saying loudly what hundreds of million of Americans generally think, but have long been silenced given the political circumstances of the past years. No doubt billions of people around the world liked what they heard in an interview with Al Arabiya TV, including me. A reassertion of its diplomatic might is what America needs and what Obama seems to be delivering on day one of his presidency. Read the opinion here and contribute with your thoughts

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Time for Optimism?

Is it possible that the global economic downturn that we are witnessing today may actually have a beneficial impact on the region? Most commentators, including myself, have been talking about and insisting on gloom-and-doom scenarios as an outcome of the crisis, but there are also good things that could emerge as a result. Read the opinion here and contribute with your thoughts

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Morocco, Tunisia: Not Giving up on Oil and Gas

Eight Years After the Talsint Debacle and Morocco Continues to Hope for Oil. It has been eight years since the Talsint debacle took place. In the year 2000, the Moroccan public awakened with the news that oil was discovered in the Talsint region, only to learn later that the news was bogus. Read here

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Earthquake Readiness: Sub Standard Housing is Major Risk for Algerian Cities

In 1980 when the then-town of El Asnam (Chlef today) was devastated by an earthquake, famed geologist Haroun Tazieff warned of the big one that was yet to come. His televised expert opinion scared many and millions of Algerians did not like what they heard. Read here

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Comments (1 posted):

salah Aït Ahmed on 30 January, 2009 12:10:48

Je me retrouve dans votre analyse,s'agissant en particulier "he must bring back the traditional American requirements of democratization, pluralism, and across-the-board civil rights. What Obama focused on in his first interview ... These are good points, but he also needs to remember that what also fuels the strength of Al Qaeda and discontent in the Arab world is this perpetual stronghold of power by unpopular regimes in place, from Sheiks, Kings, military men and so-called presidents-for-life. Most regimes in the Arab world have been the sources of enormous social instability and economic mismanagement. Obama will have to ultimately craft a conditional rapprochement. ... and one that distances America from rogue regimes, defined as regimes that are source of pain and human rights abuses, and obstacles to democracy"
JE SUIS AINSI PARTICULIEREMENT SENSIBLE AUX QUESTIONS DE DEMOCRATIE, DE RESPECT DES DROITS DE L'HOMME, DONT LE RESPECT DOIT ETRE UNE EXIGENCE ACCOMPAGNEE D'UN DISPOSITF D'EVALUATION ET DE MESURE DU PROCESSUS D'EDIFICATION D'UN ETAT DE DROIT (par exemple : ainsi avant le 11 septembre,ce système d'évaluation était exigé par l'Union Européenne dans ses négociations d'Accord d'Association avec l'Algérie. ce n'est plus le cas depuis le 11 septembre). Cordialement